Cap for nonrigid disposable nursing bottles



Feb. 14, 1950 A. M. ALLEN 2,497,197

CAP FOR NONRIGID DISPOSABLE NURSING BOTTLES Filed Jan. 25, 1946 AzwA M. ALLEN Patented Feb. 14, 1950 CAP FOR NONRIGID DISPOSABLE NURSING BOTTLES Adda M. Allen, Arlington, Va., assignor to Disposable Bottle Corporation, Washington, D. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application January 25, 1946, Serial No. 643,400

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a cap for a disposable bottle, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efiicient means for detacha'bly securing a non-rigid container to a rigid nipple-engaging cap.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient locking means to secure the inner and outer portions of a cap together for clamping a non-rigid disposable container or bottle thereto. I

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a container having the cap secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the cap;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the cap, showing the container secured thereto, certain parts. being shown in section;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a further modified form of cap;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the inner portion or ring of the cap, illustrating the rubber sealing ring carried thereby;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of cap, certain parts being shown in section.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I designates the outer :portion of the cap which carries a nipple-engaging portion II at the top thereof for detachably supporting or retaining the nipple i2 shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, The outer portion III of the cap is provided with 8. depending skirt I3 having a plurality of spaced tapering wedge-shaped lugs I4 near the lower edge of the skirt I3 and extending in a direction circumferentially of the lower edge of the skirt I3.

An inner cap portion or ring I fits inwardly of the outer portion Ill and is provided with a plurality of spaced bead or outwardly extending tubular socket members I6 which taper in the same direction as the tapering lugs I4 and extend substantially horizontally. These socket memhere It extend along the lower edge of the inner ring I5 in a direction ciroumierentially of the lower edge of the ring I5 and project sufiiciently laterally of the ring to receive the tapering lugs v I5 and between this ring I5 andthe inner face 2 of the skirt I3 of the cap III, as shown in Figure 4, thereby holding the non-rigid disposable container I'I firmly in engagement with the cap III. A rubber or other gasket I9 fits over the top edge of the ring I5 and extends down the outer and inner faces of the ring I5 adjacent the upper edge thereof. This gasket I9 may be fixed in position in any desired manner or may constitute a coating of sprayed rubber or other material to provide a proper seal against which the nonrigid container I! may fit. The container Il may be formed of any suitable material such as Cellophane, treated paper, parchment, or material of various types which are collapsible, pliant,-fiexible, and inexpensive enough to be disposable after one use.

It should be understood that after the container I1 is dropped through the ring I5, the outer portion II) of the cap is dropped over the ring I5 and the upper end of the container I'I,

thereby folding the upper edge of the container over the upper edge of the ring I5 in the manner shown in Figure 4. The cap I0 is placed in a position to locate the tapering lugs I4 between the sockets I6 and by rotating the outer portion I3 of the cap ID to extend the wedge-shaped lugs I4 through the sockets I6, the outer portion I3 will be firmly clamped and wedged in a locked position upon the ring I5. In this manner the container or cup I1 will be releasa'bly clamped in engagement with the separable sections of the cap. The cup or container I! may be removed from engagement with the cap by merely reversing the movement above described. J

In Figure 5, there is shown a modified form of the invention comprising a cap member 20 having a depending tapering skirt portion 2I which carries an annular gasket or strip of sprayed rubber or other material 22 rupon the outer face thereof. The cap member 20 carries a central nipple-engaging portion and a plurality of spaced circumferentially extending socket portions or rolled flanges 23 along the upper edge thereof. A clamping ring 24 fits upwardly over the skirt portion 2| and carries a plurality of spaced taxpering wedge-like lugs 25 which fit into the socket portions 23 for clamping the ring 24 in position. The ring 24 is provided with a circumferentially extending gasket of sprayed rubber or other material 26 upon. its inner face for engaging the outer face of the non-rigid container 21. The upper end of the container 21 is firmlyelamped between the ring 24 and the skirt 2| and the gaskets 22 and 26 provide an eflicient seal.

In Figure 6, there is shown a further modified form of the invention'wherein the outer portion 28 of the cap 29 is provided with spaced lugs along the lower edge of the skirt portion 3|, these lugs extending in a direction circumferentially of the lower edge of the skirt portion 3I. The inner ring 3i,v which is similar to the ringI5 shown in Figure 4, is provided with a plurality of spaced rolled spring socket portions 33 which are :provided with open upper faces. The socket portions 33 are formed of spring material and yield outwardly to permit the lugs to be forced downwardly into the socket portion '33, as the outer portion 28 of the cap 29 is forced downwardly over the ring 32 to a clampedposition. The container is secured to the cap in the same manner as that described with respect to the form shown in Figure 4.

The container I1 is preferably of a material to recede into the cap, as liquid is sucked from the container, in the same manner as shown in my co-pe'nding application, relating to Nursing units with retractible container therefor, Serial Number 560,610, filed October 27, .1944 which matured as Patent No. 2,446,451, dated August3, 1948.

It should be understood that the container may be formed of any suitable non-rigid or pliant ma" terial which may be most adaptable to the purpose for which the device is used. In Figure 8, there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein a cap member 35 is provided having a depending tapering skirt portion 35. The skirt portion v35 carries an annular gasket or .strip of sprayed rubber or other material 36 upon the outer face thereof, and a similar strip 3 is carried by the inner face of the clamping'ring 38. The clamping ring 38 carries lugs 39 adjacent the upper edge thereof, which lugs .39 are adapted to be gripped by the spring socket portions 49. The lugs '39, and the .spring socket portions 40 shown in Figure 8, are similar to those shown in Figure 6. The container 4| is clamped between the ring 38 and the skirt 35, the strips-35 and 31 sealing the container M in position. This structure is especially adapted for use with the straight-wall cup wherein no flange or bead is provided upon the cup, this type of cup being shown in Figures 5 and 8.

Having described the invention, what is claimed l. A cap of the class described comprising inner and outer portions, the outer portion comprising a substantially inverted cup-like member having lugs formed exteriorly thereof and extending in a line substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the cap; said inner portion having a ring-like band fitting within the outer portion and adapted to clamp a non-rigid container between the inner and outer portions, and the inner portion having sockets formed exteriorly thereof in a position to receive the lugs of the outer portion to lock the inner and outer portions together.

2. A cap of the class described comprising inner and outer portions, the outer portion comprising a substantially inverted cup-like member having lugs formed exteriorly thereof and extending in a line substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the cap, said inner portion having a ring-like band fitting within the outerportion and adapted to clamp a non-rigid container between the inner and outer portions, the inner portion having sockets formed exteriorly thereof in a position to receive the lugs of the outer portion to lock the inner and outer portions together, said lugs being arranged in spaced relation at a distance to fit between said sockets, and the lugs being adapted to be moved into said sockets when rotating the outerportion upon the inner portion.

v 3. A nursing device comprising a disposable container bag of collapsible, pliant flexible ma- 4 terial having an open forward end, a reusable :rigid collar attached to the .openend'of said container, and a nursing nipple attached in sealing engagement to said collar, said collar being relatively narrow axially as compared with the length of said container bag, and comprising inside and outside annular members concentrically arranged with respect to one another, said inside member having an inwardly and rearwardly tapering outer sealing surface and said outside .member having a correspondingly tapered inner sealing surface, said surfaces being formed to grip the open end edge area of said container bag in sealing relation between them when said end edge area is wrapped around the outer surface of said inside member and said members are axially wedged together, said members having cooperating aligned resilient lugs and sockets positioned to spring into engagement with one another when said members are axially wedged together to lock said members in their fully wedged relation to retain the open end edge area of the container bag in sealed relation between saidsurfaces.

4. A nursing device comprising a disposable container bag of collapsible, pliant flexible material having an open forward end, a reusable rigid collar attached to the open end of said container, and a nursing nipple attached in sealing engagement to said collar, said collar being relatively narrow axially as compared with the length of said container bag, and comprising inside and outside annular members concentrically arranged with respect to one another, said inside member having an inwardly and rear- War-dly tapering outer sealing surface and said outside :member having a correspondingly tapered inner sealing surface, said surfaces being formed to grip the open end edge area of said container bag in sealing relation between them when said end edge area is wrapped around the outer surface of said inside member and said members are axially wedged together, said inside member having a plurality of outwardly extending resilient socket members disposed around its perimeter adjacent the forward end of its sealing surface which open toward and overlie the forward end of said outside member, said outside member having a plurality of outwardly protruding lugs thereon adjacent its forward end which are axially aligned with said sockets, said sockets and lugs being so positioned that said lugs spring into said sockets when said members are axially wedged together to lock said members in their fully wedged relation to retain the open end edge area of the container bag in sealed relation between said surfaces.

ADDA M. ALLEN.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 279,935 Glattsteine June 26, 1883 1,421,877 Weissheier July, 1922 2,110,928 De Buys Mar. 15, 1938 2,258,395 Tome Oct. 7,- 1944 2,322,213 Amberg June 22, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,515 Great Britain 1896 525,389 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1940 555,468 Great Britain Aug. 24, 1943 

